The author is a Forbes contributor. The opinions expressed are those of the writer.

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“There are so many conversations taking place about careers, leadership and management that it’s hard to decide which one to be a part of.” I hear this from people all of the time; especially those out of work who just don’t know what to believe or which voices to follow. As we transition from a centralized to decentralized workplace, one thing is certain: you must be actively involved with conversations that will advance your career and your influence. In today’s economy, influence is the new job currency and without it you are now more vulnerable than ever.

Without influence, you don’t have a voice that matters and that wants to be heard. Think about the times you wanted to say something in a meeting, but you didn’t have the guts to say it because you didn’t think anyone cared to listen. If you plan on hiding behind your fear at work, you are in trouble. The trick is to not self-promote but rather to have the courage to share ideas about your work and the direction of the organization that get people wanting to hear more. When this happens you are now creating influence.

We have all heard that employees are a company’s greatest asset. Is it true today? If employees are allowed to be influential – then yes. However, if employees are doing only what they are being told to do - then no. Employees are only a company’s greatest asset when they become an empowered voice that can represent the organization they lead and serve.

America’s corporations are slowly weakening their own talent pool. As employers try to figure out their future, employees become outdated, and their skill-sets become irrelevant as business models and the rules of the game change. For companies to reestablish themselves and to thrive during these fast-changing times, they must allow their employees to have greater influence. In turn, employees must be prepared to assume this responsibility if they are to establish a voice. In today’s new workplace your responsibility is to invest in yourself and in the right people so that your influence multiplies and your job currency strengthens.

Here are four ways that influence can create positive change in the workplace:

1. Influence Breeds Impact and Cultivates Momentum

If you are passionate about something in your work, create impact. This is how your influence becomes viral and how your voice generates demand. You begin to generate momentum as your value in the organization grows.

For example, if you are part of your organization’s CSR initiative, how you influence outcomes will get others to want to learn from you and how you were able to create such impact.

2. Influence Creates Discovery of Talent

When you are influential at work, people begin to take notice. I remember when I was on the fast-track at Sunkist. I was opening new markets and introducing new products. As our market share grew, the media noticed. As our revenue and profitability increased, I was asked to participate in more meetings to share my success. Eventually, I built a relationship with the CEO and was promoted to executive management. My talent was discovered by other influencers in the organization.

3. Influence Starts New Conversations

When your voice matters and it is being heard, people want to become a part of your conversations. People become curious about what you are talking about and want to be on the inside of the discussion.